I just heard from someone in the media that Governor Shumlin made time in his busy schedule today for a series of one-on-one meetings with members of the State House press corps. The subject: the Jeremy Dodge land deal, natch. Nice timing. Friday afternoon, Memorial Day weekend, stories buried in the Saturday paper.
(My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Darn.)
I guess individual interviews were preferable to a formal news conference because he wanted to avoid an explosion of the pack mentality, and so he could subject each reporter to the power of his personal charm.
Also, I’m sure he wanted to avoid a repeat of last year’s debacle when reporters questioned the terms of the original East Montpelier land deal:
..Shumlin initially dodged questions from reporters about the land deal, which involved a campaign donor. At a heated press conference, in which reporters peppered him with questions about the deal, he became visibly angry and left abruptly. The reaction afterward was swift. Shumlin’s staff called reporters and chastised them for delving into his personal life.
Yeah, we hope he (and his angry staff) took a lesson from that incident. Walking out of a presser and personally attacking reporters might provide temporary relief of scandal-related symptoms, but it’s likely to make things worse in the long run.
but you can’t make something like this any worse. Breathtaking arrogance.
He should resign, and there should be indictments.
The documents leave a bloody paper trail. Other than his infamous little temper tantrums- what is his explanation for his dealings and actions in the fleecing of this man?
Which begs the question, how could anyone explain this away?
Am I missing something here? This might be the single-most unethical business dealing of any governor in any US state in my almost 60-year lifetime. Sit across from a man who has diminished capacity and is down to his last dime – tell him he doesn’t need a lawyer while you TAKE the last thing he owns from him – I can’t think of anything less ethical – and more immoral, more of an outrage to the basic notion of living in a community – than this one.
I see little wrong yet. But that’s Shumlin’s story, one-sided in a very controlled environment. I’d like to hear more from the family, as the governor says he asked Dodge to get help from his family and that he stepped in only after the son refused help (according to what Dodge told the governor).
The town lister needs to be interviewed at greater length. If the adjustment is justifiable, why couldn’t it have been applied to Dodge?
The FBI angle needs further inquiry, as the governor says he’s never been interviewed, quite contrary to the original reporting. That seems easily confirmed or refuted.
I see little wrong yet. But that’s Shumlin’s story, one-sided in a very controlled environment. I’d like to hear more from the family, as the governor says he asked Dodge to get help from his family and that he stepped in only after the son refused help (according to what Dodge told the governor).
The town lister needs to be interviewed at greater length. If the adjustment is justifiable, why couldn’t it have been applied to Dodge?
The FBI angle needs further inquiry, as the governor says he’s never been interviewed, quite contrary to the original reporting. That seems easily confirmed or refuted.
i hit post twice.
Safety net? Anybody see a safety net? ‘Cause I heard there was a safety net! Everyone keeps saying there is a safety net… Ahhhhhhh!